For much of the time that Martin Kramer and Jerry Johnson ran the Dome
Shadows, I was an independent booking agent (American Bands Mgmt.), that booked
75% to 90% of the entertainment. Actually Jerry (and his wife Jewel) didn't
turn the club country until much later. The first couple of years Jerry had it,
we ran a lot of the top regionally ranked Hard Rock bands from Texas and
surrounding areas in the club. It was like a mini concert, with a dance floor.
Jerry went on to back me at "The Palace."- a short run concert club ('79-80) at
Richmond Ave. and 610, that featured nationally recognized acts. (seated 990)
At the Dome Shadows, we had Steppenwolf and others perform. Top regional bands
at the Dome included Lic, Jeremiah and Blitz.

Lic in the late 70's was a cultural pheonoman. They were making $1,500 a
night and were outdrawing all of the competition and many national groups. After
breaking up in the early 80's, two of the members died way too young.
Richard Heath, lead guitar player went on to perform with Vince Vance and the
Valiants. He was killed in a car wreck on the way home from a performance.
Louis Baldovin committed suicide a few years later at age 40. In their
prime. they were courted by several record labels and a potential deal with
London Records fell apart from disagreements in the band.

The Palace was a step up. We brought in up and coming acts like Pat
Benatar (twice), Prince, Hall and Oates, Prince and others. We, also, brought
in some established acts like Harry Chapin. (awesome show).

I have a lot of information I can share with you about both of these
venues, if you are interested from the time period of about 76-80.

I don't have time right now to get into all of it, but, feel free to
contact you. I will try to write more, later.

John Blomstrom

Viewing your web site about the Dome Shadows, I have a lot of memories from
there.

Yes, the Ramones played there. I know that, because I booked them at the
Dome. My company American Bands Mgmt. booked a lot of rock bands from the
early 70's to early 90's thru out Houston, Texas and the midwest. The Ramones
were a great band to work with. I don't remember who opened for them. One of
the people logging in to your site said it was a pretty boy band that the crowd
booed. That is possible, but, I doubt I would have matched the Ramones up with
a group like that. I will have to assume the band in question was playing for
the week and the Ramones stopped in for their one show. I can't over emphasize
how easy the Ramones were to work with. We must have done 100 dates on that
band, and never experienced any real problem. It saddens me that three of the
guys are now gone.

In the late 70's, my agency represented most of the hot regional rock bands from
Texas and the surrounding ares. I was single, in my 20's and life was good. Lic
was one of my "favored" bands. My agency worked hard for them and later a
couple of them would be in my wedding party. The band was on the road a lot.
Therefore,the lead guitarplayer, Richard Heath (dba Tommy Gunn) gave up his
apartment and just stayed at my house when he was in town. Whether the band was
playing at the Dome Shadows, somewhere else, or not playing at all, Richard and
I seemed to always run into very friendly pretty girls. One night in 1977
Richard and I went to the Dome Shadows to see another really good band, I
booked- BLITZ. It so happened there was a very cute girl there, that was
friends with Blitz. I made a point to go up and introduce myself. She left
that night without me, and my ego was bruised. I saw her there a second time
and couldn't remember her name. Thank God, she told me. I visited with her,
but, again, she went home with her roommate Kathy. This was starting to suck.
A week or two later, I saw her again. Damned, if I forgot her name, again. But,
I had NOT forgot her or how she walked. OMG. Anyway, since, I forgot her name,
again, she wouldn't talk to me. Obviously, I was able to get her name at some
point, because Dec. 28, 2008, we will have been married 30 years, with 3
children and our 2nd grand child on the way. CHEYRL BYRD- now Blomstrom. I
never forgot that, again. Thanks Dome Shadows for hooking me up permanently.

In the 70's, the Dome was the place to be for good hard rock and roll.
Richard Heath (of Lic) and I met many beautiful friendly young women there.
(but, I met no more women after meeting my future bride, Cheryl Byrd).

One night after Lic played (they were playing two nights- Friday and
Saturday), Richard told me-

"Man, did you see that gorgeous girl dancing right in front of me?" The
obvious answer was

"Which one?" He said "There was only one." Anyway, the next night, if she
was there, he said

he would point her out to me. Lic had an opening band, so, wouldn't be
going on for awhile. About an hour before they played, he said "Hey John, come
here." I said "What do you need?" He said "She's here, but, with some guy."
He pointed her out to me. She was attractive, but, what stuck in my mind was
the pullover shirt she was wearing. It said "Spoiled Rotten." I said, "Rich, I
don't know. She is admitting it. Check that out."
It only made him more
determined. He wanted me to distract her date, somehow, so he could talk with
her.

Being a buddy and the ultimate wingman, I complied. I have no idea what I
said or did to distract the guy, but, Richard got his chance. It is the only
time I remember him getting completely shot down to the point of being
embarassed.

I don't know what she said, but, he wouldn't talk about it or mention her,
again. I, probably, saw her in the club another 6-8 times and always made a
point to tease him. Richard, like myself, met his future bride in this time
period. I don't know if it was at the Dome Shadows or not, but, Donna certainly
came to the Dome a lot to see "her guy." Those were fun times that came around
once and will never come, again.

Do NOT use this first Face Book page, use the second one at the bottom. We have a Face Book page. Please join the page and become a friend! The first Facebook will be discontinued when most of our members move over. And remember that I have a new email address: garyyantis@gmail.com

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name Dome Shadows in it.